City of São Paulo, Brazil, celebrates 466 years

foto: Por Marcosleal 

Today is the birthday of São Paulo, the fourth most populous capital in the world. Check out moments that marked the history of the city.

Delhi, India, and Shanghai, China, are in the second and third positions. And São Paulo, with 22,429,800 inhabitants, is the only Brazilian city in the ranking of the 10 most populous cities in the world.

1 - Tokyo, Japan. 37.435.191

2 - Delhi, India. 29.399.141

3 - Shanghai, China. 26.317.104

4 - Sao Paulo, Brazil. 21.846.507

5 - Mexico City, Mexico.  21.671.908

6 - Cairo, Egypt. 20.970.833

7 - Dhaka, Bangladesh.20.700.124 

8 - Mumbai, India. 20.350.656

9 - Beijing, China. 20.042.182

10 - Osaka, Japan. 19.452.416

To celebrate the 463 years of foundation, learn about facts that shaped the construction of the city

In 2017, people from São Paulo will celebrate the 463 years of Terra da Garoa. Founded in 1554 by Jesuit priests, the city of São Paulo is world famous for its great influence on activities related to culture, economics and politics, among other sectors. In addition to being the most populous city in the entire southern hemisphere, São Paulo is considered the 14th most globalized city on the planet.

On this festive day, we separate some important moments in history that contributed to the city of São Paulo becoming this megalopolis.

The settlement of São Paulo de Piratininga emerged when 12 Jesuit priests built a school on top of a hill, between the Anhangabaú and Tamanduateí rivers, on January 25, 1554. In that shed made of mud, the purpose was to catechize the Indians who lived in the region from the Piratininga plateau. The name São Paulo was chosen because on January 25, the Catholic Church celebrates the conversion of the apostle Paul of Tarsus, according to biblical accounts.

Centuries later, after the population, demographic and financial growth of the city, the Faculty of Law of Largo São Francisco was inaugurated in 1827, the oldest institution of its kind in the country. It emerged just five years after the proclamation of Brazil's independence, with the purpose of training public administrators and rulers.

Years later, in 1890, the Bolsa Livre was founded, which would become the São Paulo Stock Exchange. Bolsa Livre did not go very far, ending its activities just one year after its inauguration, as a result of the policy of Encilhamento – economic bubble that occurred in Brazil, between the end of the Monarchy and the beginning of the Republic. Four years later, in 1895, the São Paulo Public Funds Exchange was opened, which continued the evolution of the Brazilian capital market.

At the same time, São Paulo gained what would be considered the heart of the city, Avenida Paulista, inaugurated in 1891. It is considered one of the main financial centers, as well as one of the most characteristic tourist spots. The avenue reveals its importance not only as an economic hub, but also as a center of culture and entertainment.

São Paulo did not stop growing and, as a result, it needed better logistics infrastructure. Thus, at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1901, the third Luz Railway Station was inaugurated, one of the most important in the city until today. At the time, the station occupied 7,520 m², and consisted of two distinct blocks, elevated by a tall clock tower, seen from various points of the city, with the architectural pattern adopted in the Brás and Santos stations. The station design is attributed to the British Charles Henry Driver, renowned architect of railway stations.

Located in Bom Retiro, it is part of the rail transport network of the Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM), with transfer to the Luz Metro Station, being one of its most important nodes, since different lines pass through it or are nearby. train and subway.

The first skyscraper in São Paulo was inaugurated in 1929, the Martinelli Building. Currently considered the most important architectural symbol of the lower city's transition moment, construction began in 1924 and opened in 1929 with 12 floors. The works continued until 1934, when the work was completed with 30 floors and 105 meters high. When finished, Martinelli had surpassed Edifício A Noite, located in Rio de Janeiro, until then the tallest skyscraper in Brazil and Latin America, which had been inaugurated in 1929.

But a city is also made of conflicts. And it was in 1932 that São Paulo was the scene of one of the main battles in the country, the Constitutionalist Revolution. Also known as Guerra Paulista, it was the armed movement that took place in the state of São Paulo with the objective of overthrowing the provisional government of Getúlio Vargas so that a National Constituent Assembly could be convened.

Knowing the history of the city where we live helps us understand our role in this space. Therefore, if you liked this brief summary, the Department of Education suggests that you delve deeper into research on the subject. The more you know, the more interesting São Paulo will be for you.